Charlie Buck’s horse riding school & stables

A few months into litter picking we discovered the area around the Sandy Park (Gertrude Road) park used to be a horse riding school. Which closed down in the 90’s. We still have the ‘careful horses crossing’ road sign on Mousehold Ave!

Charlie Buck’s stables were on the George White playing field and slope next to the park. I have managed to piece together some information from chatting with local residents but would be great to have a guest blogger re-write this post and help preserve this piece of our local history. Even a few testimonies from your time here. These stables were a big part of a lot of people’s childhood.

You can see the council garages on the now St. Martins site and Florida Group shoe factory, which closed in 2018 I believe.

After discovering this vital piece of history it explained why the soil and land here is so rich in nutrition.

Gertrude Road houses in the background. The slope is looking very bare in this photo compared to how it is today.
Paul aged 4. Local resident who has been helping with the litter picking. You can see the council garages on the now St. Martins site and the top of Anglia Square. Trigger the palomino. August 1978.

The flytipping and rubbish here dates back to when this site used to be a horse riding stable. We even found a riding helmet!

Found winter 2021 on-site!

In the 90’s Charlie Buck sadly passed away and the Norfolk County Council leased the land to George White school on Crome Road. During this process, the slope between the field and the kid’s park got forgotten. Over the 20-30 years it slowly became a forgotten dumping ground until winter of 2020 when we as a group started to slowly clear the rubbish away being extremely careful to not damage the habit.

I believe the stable house was on the Swanton care site. The blue area was leased to the school.

Please get in touch to share your memories. We love seeing old photos!

13 thoughts on “Charlie Buck’s horse riding school & stables”

  1. I used to have a workshop in the old stables now redeveloped as the care site. You can still see the drop kerb on Crome Road where the entrance was.
    Used to get teas and snacks from Josie’s cafe on Mousehold Avenue, also long gone and built over

  2. Tree View used to be The Palamino Cafe, a local haunt with council workers and alike. Parking was not a problem as there was no restrictions on Mousehold Avenue. As for the stables, I believe they where on Crome Road on what is now the George White playing field. Hope this is of use.

      1. I had my first ride on a horse on the waste land behind the stables. A couple of girls walking horses let me sit. I wasn’t to old but I was hooked then and now have my own horses. My nanny and grandad lived in a house just a few doors up. Lots of steps from the Rd to the front door so had a good view. You could hear the horses clip copping before you saw them. I would run to the window to watch them go by. My fondest memory.

  3. Aah the memories .CHARLIE BUCKS PALOMINO RIDING STABLES. 1971-1976. Ponies Rusty, Chris, Blacky, Ricky, Micky, Nicky, Tommy(a sweetie), Pharaoh and star. I remember the girl who taught me, she was quite strict, bless her and thanks. Riding on Mousehold was a treat, I still remember the route and jumping over parts of vinegar pond. Robert was quite cheeky did he get a place at Newmarket?. In the 4th photo down is the golden white maned palomino pony that threw me into the biggest patch of mud you ever saw. I was covered, Robert could not stop laughing. He also raced Rusty with a girl on Star. Mr and Mrs Charlie Buck were a lovely couple my dad always had time for Charlie ( his favourite pony Tommy). In the Summer holidays the ponies would vacate to a large field near Whitlingham, When first arriving it was lovely to watch them frolic. Next to the main stables was a small wood hut/shed were you would pay 50p. Charlie and wife always had time to talk and would sell horse posters every month.,My walls were full. I still have an old riding hat, crop, and maybe a poster but sadly no photos. I have enjoyed looking at those posted, thanks. The main stables were on the biggest field with a fence and gate to another field on the same plot in blue. Swanton Care Tree view court is where the smaller stables were. In front of them was a cafe, laundrette and later a shop called Stitch and Save and I think Charlie owned these but not sure. Opposite the main field in blue, the other side of Mousehold Ave was a small triangular field near the allotments and church. It now looks like scrubland i hope this helps. Mr and Mrs Buck were a lovely couple dedicated to their Palomino riding stables and ensuring that the children of Norwich had the Opportunity to learn to ride. I had been looking on line for a few years and thought it had been forgotten. Thank you for the memories.

    1. This was really lovely to read. I am pleased it brought back great memories for you. I also heard from chatting to the locals that there used to be a bingo hall where the factory now has its car park? Hopefully, over time more people will find this blog post and share more photos/ memories.

  4. Richenda Farman

    I was taught to ride at Charlie Bucks. I think it was about 1971 when I first started. I went every Saturday morning for several years. I remember some of the horses: Blackie, Christopher, Pharoh, Ricky, Rusty and Star. Once we had learnt to ride in the field, on the corner of Crome Road, we used to ride out onto Mousehold Avenue and up to Mousehold Heath for a canter around the Heath. This could be a bit nerve wracking at times. I remember riding Star who was a bit skittish, she was an ex race horse and could be a bit unpredictable but she was a beautiful horse so I felt very proud to ride her. Unfortunately a rattling milk cart upset her on our ride to the Heath one day and she kicked out at it, I’m not sure who was the most frightened; me or the milkman!
    I remember it cost 50 pence for an hour long lesson and a girl called Bridget who worked there and helped a lot of kids to ride. I am now over 60 years old but I remember those days with great affection.

  5. It was around 1980 when my mum my friend Tanya and her mum started riding at charlie bucks. We had to pick a hat ….none of them ever fitted!! We had to have a few ‘lessons ‘ in the field at the front near the road. Once we could stay on off we would all go to mousehold. The horses would jump tree trunks etc and we clung on but more often someone would come off!! No rules. We’d have races in the field near gur ey Road I think it was. We didn’t really get taught. We were self taught! Absolutely LOVED it ❤
    Then we went to salhouse and had great memories but that also closed ????

    1. Hi, I’ve just found this piece about Charlie Buck’s Stables and like you, I went on to riding at Salhouse. Was it the Equestrian Centre by any chance? I have many happy memories of there too.

  6. I can remember helping out at a stables which I thought was on Silver Road, I thought that that was Charlie Bucks School, I can’t remember the horses names but the horses were all lovely and so well looked after, the owners adored them all I thought that there was a school ring and also we went onto mousehold with them.

  7. My Father was best friends with Charlie and his wife Hilda and remained close friends with Hilda after Charlie passed away!! Charlie left my Father his signet ring in his Will which Hilda presented him after Charlie’s funeral. It was with great sadness that my Father a few year’s later collapsed at Hilda’s home and passed away…. I have very very many fond memories of Charlie and Hilda too many to right down but if anyone would like to hear some just ask !!

  8. I loved learning to ride here! 14 horses & ponies when I went.
    Rusty, Chris, Blackie, Pharoah, Fella, Paddy, Sovereign, Roly, Mickey, Smokey, Tommy, Dawn, Candy & Trigger.
    3 out at Bramerton- Star, Whiskey & Blossom I think.
    I’ve got some photos somewhere.

Leave a Reply to Elizabeth Smith-Dane Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Uncategorized

TCV and Fringe Project led tasks

10th March 2023- planting Hawthorn, hazel, oak, and blackthorn along the allotment path. Volunteers: 6. Mix of TCV and Pockthorpe members. 17th March 2023- Volunteers …

Read More →
Uncategorized

Part 2 of the alleyway project. Plants are going in!

The very talented Kev built planters from pallets found locally around Pockthorpe, NR3. Wroxham barns and The Theatre Royal also donated wood to the project. …

Read More →
Uncategorized

TCV at Kett’s cave park this Friday and next week- Get involved.

Matt Davies from The Fringe Project and TCV are working at our lovely park this Friday and next week. Pop along and help if you …

Read More →
Uncategorized

Upcoming dates

Sunday 12th March- Alleyway project. More info on FB- Pockthorpe Group. SUNDAY, 2 APRIL 2023 AT 10:00GB Spring Clean Litter-pick Time to give our green …

Read More →
Uncategorized

Late night breaking up old pallets!

Last week 10 of us spent the evening removing nails and dismantling old pallets. We are using reclaimed wood to create planters in our lovely …

Read More →
Uncategorized

Creating our urban garden in Norwich’s alleyways- Beaconsfield and Knowsley Road

18 neighbours and friends turned out this morning to start transforming one of our many local alleyways. Fences were painted, planters made, moss scraped off, …

Read More →
Uncategorized

LOVE Norwich NNC event- 18th Feb 2023

Calling everyone who lives in the Pockthorpe and Heathgate areas of #nr3 Join us for our next Love Norwich community clean-up event:Saturday 18 February 10am-2pm …

Read More →
Uncategorized

Amazing Alleys- Beaconsfield Road NR3

In 2019, neighbours from Beaconsfield and Knowsley Roads got together one sunny Sunday afternoon to clean up their much neglected alley way.  About twenty people …

Read More →
Uncategorized

Grit team!

Over the Christmas period, the paths got extremely slippy, so a few of us got together and gritted the paths.

Read More →
Uncategorized

Regular litter picks

I have been really lazy at keeping up the blog posts! Apologies. The lovely local NR3 green party has been helping our community group with …

Read More →
Uncategorized

We got a defibrillator for Mousehold Hub, NR3

Thank you so much councillor Gary Champion! I started the ball rolling to get our area a defib. It turned into a massive headache, so …

Read More →
Uncategorized

100 metres of pointless fencing finally gone at Kett’s cave

At Christmas, I did a cheeky ask at Hill construction‘s Christmas carols and asked if they could possibly help us with removing 100 metres of …

Read More →
Uncategorized

Another great clean-up at Kett’s cave park

Today we had another fantastic clean-up at Kett’s cave park. We mostly removed brambles from incredibly old broken wire fences ready for Hills property developers …

Read More →
Uncategorized

Next event 12th Feb 10am Kett’s Cave

Litter-picking and bramble clearing off old broken wire fences is next planned on Saturday 12th Feb at 10 am. We are going to concentrate mainly …

Read More →
Uncategorized

Scrub Management

During the hazy long lockdown days what Lizzie and I realised whilst wandering around our area is how rich in birdlife the Ketts Cave park …

Read More →
Uncategorized

Green goodgymmers & community tackle a thorny issue!!

Fantastic litter pick and fence removal prep at our last event. We invited the Good gym crew to help! Find out more about Good Gym …

Read More →
Uncategorized

Kett’s Cave Litter Pick 29th January – Volunteers Needed!

Kett’s Cave Litter PickVolunteers NeededCalling all people of Pockthorpe… Kett’s Cave Community Litter Pick 29th January 2022 10am start Come and help: We would love …

Read More →
Uncategorized

Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of the Pockthorpe Community Group held on Tuesday 11 January 2022

Minutes of the Annual General Meeting of the Pockthorpe Community Group held on Tuesday 11 January 2022Members present: Billie Anna-Tony, Gary Champion, Alex Catt, Gill …

Read More →
Uncategorized

AGM now on Zoom – 11th Jan 2022

Happy New Year everyone! Sadly, we have had to change next Tuesday’s AGM to an online Zoom meeting because of the current Covid situation. The …

Read More →
Uncategorized

Newsletter- December 2021. Exciting news on defib!

Dec 2021 It’s been a busy couple of months and we have some really exciting news to share. We finally got the money for a …

Read More →
Uncategorized

First AGM scheduled- Tuesday 11 January – in the Scouts Hut.

We’ve got our first AGM scheduled for 7:30 pm Tuesday 11 January – in the Scouts Hut. Now that we are working with the Council …

Read More →
Uncategorized

Results from the community consult- 2021

Planning the event & who we invited We got 500 flyers printed by Minuteman Press in Norwich, these were posted through homes around the two …

Read More →
Uncategorized

PUBLIC CONSULTATION- 4th Dec 2021

Last year a group of volunteers came together to try and improve the Council owned land at Kett’s Cave and Sandy Park and run community …

Read More →
Uncategorized

Hedgehog Highways

Over the last few years we have seen plenty of evidence of hedgehogs scurrying around the Pockthorpe neighbourhood. They have been spotted on Dibden Road …

Read More →
Uncategorized

Dangerous broken wire fences at Kett’s cave- volunteers needed

As a group, we are proposing Norwich City Council removes these hazardous wire fences at Kett’s cave, NR3 1NH. They are historic and serve no …

Read More →
Uncategorized

Benches

We reported our two street benches to be repaired in Jan 2021 to the Labour party, Norwich City Council and Norfolk county council. Sadly they …

Read More →
Uncategorized

44-46 Morley Street, Norwich, NR3

Timeline and information on the derelict piece of land next to the Kett’s cave park. Owned by Norwich City Council housing Derelict, boarded up site …

Read More →
Uncategorized

Art project on water street cabinet

We have some great news. Anglian Water has approved for us to paint the two Anglian water cabinets on Silver Road, Norwich NR3. I have …

Read More →
Uncategorized

Halloween trail in NR3 Norwich

This year the residents of city centre Pockthorpe in Norwich are creating a Halloween trail for the local children. Join our FB group to get …

Read More →
Uncategorized

We need a defibrillator in our area!

Norwich as a city is really lacking public 24-hour access defibrillators. I am currently trying to piece together all the information I need to get …

Read More →
Uncategorized

Stay and Play at the Hub

We are really excited to announce a new Stay and Play starting on Tuesday mornings at Mousehold Hub on Mousehold Avenue. It will run from …

Read More →
Uncategorized

Wider community day- 11th Sep 2021

This is the opportunity to come and say what you love and hate about the Pockthorpe community proposed ideas. We are calling it a wider …

Read More →
Uncategorized

Norfolk Car-Free Day and Play Streets

Sunday 19 September 2021 is Norfolk Car-Free Day – an initiative that started with 2019’s Norwich Car-Free Day before going countywide last year. For this …

Read More →
Uncategorized

Minutes from the Steering Group 2 July 2021

PresentLiz Smith-Dane, Rob Bakewell, Shelley Donaghie, Billie Anna-Tony, Tony Moore, Bekka Quantrill-Tozer, Nicki Collins.ApologiesGary Champion.Decisions⦁ Agreed that Shelley will act as Chair, Rob as Deputy …

Read More →
Uncategorized

Tidying up the area around Heath Road Park

Residents noticed the area surrounding Heath Road Park has been a little neglected. The park itself is usually clean and tidy and the kids love …

Read More →
Uncategorized

Charlie Buck’s horse riding school & stables

A few months into litter picking we discovered the area around the Sandy Park (Gertrude Road) park used to be a horse riding school. Which …

Read More →
Uncategorized

Rare urban pristine green space at Sandy Park

* wild areas of Sandy park slope and Kett’s cave* Gertrude Road and Mousehold Avenue. Me, Rob and Tony just had an amazing meeting with …

Read More →
Uncategorized

We are planning to paint our open reach street cabinets

Most, if not all, of the green Open Reach and Virgin boxes in our area have been vandalised with Graffiti, so we asked residents if, …

Read More →
Uncategorized

Do Norwich council use weed killer?

I think it’s important to start this blog by understanding how the council works first. It’s divided up into Norfolk county council and Norwich City …

Read More →
Uncategorized

Kett’s Cave clean up in Norwich

As a community we have been meeting up regularly to litter pick around the Kett’s Cave on Morley Street in Norwich, NR3 this is on …

Read More →
Uncategorized

Restoring our historic metal road signs

We recently found out that sadly Norwich City Council doesn’t restore our historic road signs. If you report one using their online form they just …

Read More →
Uncategorized

Borrowing litter pickers in Norwich

If you are keen to get involved in our project and want to borrow our community litter pickers please contact us and we can arrange …

Read More →
Uncategorized

Removing historic fly-tipping from around Sandy Park

This project started in February 2020 when Rob Bakewell a local resident started arranging litter picking events around the streets of Sewell ward in NR3. …

Read More →